How to catch an octopus?

Incredible animal. Really smart, should not be kept in captivity unless you are able to constantly interact and provide it with stimulants and even "play". They are way too smart to be left alone all day like a fish can be.

What are you plans once you capture it? I don't think I could just throw away a hitchhiker like this :(
 
If its hungry enough you should be able to bait it into a net or other vessel and watch. When it goes in pull it out. Maybe a red light pointed at the tank will allow you to see it. A lot of animals cant see red light, but I think they can see red light so that might not help.
 
I’ll be honest, I was half asleep (my dogs woke me up to go outside) when I saw him. I grabbed my work phone from the counter and took a few pictures and went back to bed. I wasn’t sure if they are good or bad for tanks so I didn’t want to catch him without more knowledge!
Need to work with those dogs. I have to wake mine up to go out :face-with-tears-of-joy: 20230330_105642.jpg
 
I had one come in on a piece of live rock a few months back and was going to release it by my wife suggested I keep it. This is it now! She works from home so she is there to interact with it throughout the day. I have it in a 50 cube. It has a screen top but it could get out at any time but it hasn't yet. Lol. The tank is right behind the couch and when I turn on the TV it comes over and seems to be watching it! Most interesting aquarium pet I've ever had! The last pic is it watching television. Lol
 

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Anyone see this? It’s pretty amazing. Maybe watch it while you decide.

 
You should keep it!
These cute juvenile dwarf octopus are a popular hitchhiker this time of year. Adults relish live crabs and shrimp.
You should be able to easily net it at night as it is hunting about, as they are nocturnal.

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And isn’t this a little squid lol? They look so similar I’m still convinced it’s squid lol. How many arms does it have?
 
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Yesss!!! I was at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the docent was telling me about how fish kept mysteriously disappearing overnight, from one of the tanks in their classroom years back… i don’t remember how they figured it out, but apparently the octopus was sticking a tentacle out, unlatching it’s own tank, crawling out of the tank, down the table leg, across the floor, up the table leg, then opening and snacking on the fish in the tank! O.O It would then latch the fish tank, crawl down the table leg, across the floor, back up the table leg, into it’s own tank, latching it behind itself! LOL the water trail would be dry by the time the staff/ class showed up- so it took them ages to sort it out! Hahaha i love these guys!
That is crazy!!! And hard to believe, especially the part where it closes the latch again to hide the evidence. How sure are you that this story is true?
 
I also got the same octopus in my TBS rock package. I was worried he would eat up my cuc so I rush ordered some small feeder shrimp from RU Salty. I have never had an issue with it. Small fish seem to be undisturbed and snails and crabs seem fine. I rarely see him/her. Mostly if I get up at night and check with a flashlight or when lights first come on. I'll let you all know if any issues ever come up, but seems more interesting than a problem.
 
I had one come in on a piece of live rock a few months back and was going to release it by my wife suggested I keep it. This is it now! She works from home so she is there to interact with it throughout the day. I have it in a 50 cube. It has a screen top but it could get out at any time but it hasn't yet. Lol. The tank is right behind the couch and when I turn on the TV it comes over and seems to be watching it! Most interesting aquarium pet I've ever had! The last pic is it watching television. Lol
What type of octopus is that in looking to build an Octo tank! What tank do you use?
 
Yesss!!! I was at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the docent was telling me about how fish kept mysteriously disappearing overnight, from one of the tanks in their classroom years back… i don’t remember how they figured it out, but apparently the octopus was sticking a tentacle out, unlatching it’s own tank, crawling out of the tank, down the table leg, across the floor, up the table leg, then opening and snacking on the fish in the tank! O.O It would then latch the fish tank, crawl down the table leg, across the floor, back up the table leg, into it’s own tank, latching it behind itself! LOL the water trail would be dry by the time the staff/ class showed up- so it took them ages to sort it out! Hahaha i love these guys!
why didnt it leave a water trail behind?
 
omg, i think i want one now! i have a couple tanks in my garage, but there's no way my wife will let me keep one in the house if she reads any of these escape stories.

she was traumatized by the movie Alien and would think the octo would be on her face one night.
 
That is crazy!!! And hard to believe, especially the part where it closes the latch again to hide the evidence. How sure are you that this story is true?
honestly i have no idea, i was just relaying what was told to me- but I would hope the docents don’t lie to the kids/ teens (how old was i? Lol) on a regular basis! Haha She was telling me the story to show me how smart it was :) and it definitely got me even more interested! :D
 
Ive always wanted one. A couple lfs get them in from time to time at around $100. So free would definitely get me to keep one. I think I could devise a tank that would probably be adequate for it but I worry about becoming attached to it and it only living for a year or so. I did this with a couple mantids also cool little critters with a short lifespan.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%

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